A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60), an aft body (61), and a sound modifying sole and crown design is disclosed herein. The face component, which may be composed of a metal material, (60) has a striking area portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61), which may be composed of a non-metal material such as composite or thermoplastic material, is composed of a crown portion (62) and a sole portion (64). The sound modifying design, which may include deep pockets or pillars extending from the sole portion (64) to the crown portion (62), alters the sound of the golf club head (42) when it impacts a golf ball.
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1. A golf club head comprising:
a face component;
a crown comprising an interior surface;
a sole comprising at least one aperture; and
a cover,
wherein the interior surface of the crown comprises one or more alignment features,
wherein the crown and sole are connected at the one or more alignment features by a hollow pillar composed of a composite material that extends from the at least one aperture and makes contact with the one or more alignment features, and
wherein the aperture is obscured from view by the cover.
13. A wood-type golf club head comprising:
a titanium alloy face component comprising an X-shaped variable thickness pattern;
a compression-molded composite crown comprising an interior surface and at least one alignment feature disposed on the interior surface;
a sole comprising at least one aperture; and
a hollow pillar composed of a composite material,
wherein the crown has a thickness of 0.025 inch to 0.070 inch,
wherein the crown and the sole are connected to one another at their respective peripheries with an adhesive material,
wherein the at least one alignment feature is integrally formed with the crown and has a greater thickness than the crown, and
wherein the pillar extends from the at least one aperture and makes contact with the interior surface of the crown proximate the least one alignment feature.
2. The golf club head of
3. The golf club head of
6. The golf club head of
7. The golf club head of
8. The golf club head of
9. The golf club head of
10. The golf club head of
11. The golf club head of
12. The golf club head of
16. The wood-type golf club head of
17. The wood-type golf club head of
18. The wood-type golf club head of
19. The wood-type golf club head of
20. The wood-type golf club head of
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The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/920,960, filed on Jun. 24, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/211,595, filed on Aug. 17, 2011, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/375,337, filed on Aug. 20, 2010, and which also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/376,632, filed on Aug. 24, 2010.
Not Applicable
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multiple-material golf club head having sole and crown configurations that generate rigidity in the head to help with acoustics and structural requirements with minimal added mass. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club head with face component composed of a metal material for a more efficient transfer of energy to a golf ball at impact, a non-metallic aft-body to control the mass distribution, and a connection between the sole and crown at a location other than the periphery of the club head, and in the vicinity of one or more alignment features, for altering the frequency, amplitude, and duration of the sound of the golf club head striking a golf ball, as well as improving the rigidity of the head.
2. Description of the Related Art
Technical innovation in the material, construction and performance of golf clubs has resulted in a variety of new products. The advent of metals as a structural material has largely replaced natural wood for wood-type golf club heads, and is but one example of this technical innovation resulting in a major change in the golf industry. Another important example is the use of composite or plastic materials to form components of golf club heads, including the face, crown, and/or sole.
The Rules of Golf, established and interpreted by the United States Golf Association (“USGA”) and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of Saint Andrews, set forth certain requirements for a golf club head. The requirements for a golf club head are found in Rule 4 and Appendix II. Complete descriptions of the Rules of Golf are available on the USGA web page at www.usga.org. Although the Rules of Golf do not expressly state specific parameters for a golf club face, Rule 4-1e prohibits the face from having the effect at impact of a spring with a golf ball. In 1998, the USGA adopted a test procedure pursuant to Rule 4-1e, which measures club face COR. This USGA test procedure, as well as procedures like it, may be used to measure club face COR.
Although the prior art has disclosed many variations of multiple material club heads, the prior art has failed to provide a multiple material club head with a high coefficient of restitution greater forgiveness for the typical golfer, and a sound modifying component for a more pleasing sound when the golf club head strikes the golf ball.
One aspect of the invention is a golf club head comprising a face component, a crown having an interior surface, and a sole having an interior surface, wherein at least one alignment feature is provided on the interior surface of the crown and wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the sole contacts the at least one alignment feature. In further embodiments, the crown and sole are made from a composite material and the face component is made from a titanium material. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one alignment feature is integrally molded with the crown. In another embodiment, the at least one alignment feature is affixed to the interior surface of the crown.
Another aspect of the invention is a golf club head comprising an aft-body body comprising a crown and a sole and a face portion attached to the aft-body, the face portion comprising a striking area and a rear section extending laterally rearwardly from the striking face, wherein the rear section comprises a sole side, a crown side, a heel side, and a toe side, wherein the crown and the sole each have a periphery, wherein the crown comprises one or more alignment features spaced inward from the periphery, and wherein the crown and sole are connected to one another at the one or more alignment features. In further aspects of the invention, the crown and sole are composed of a composite material, the face portion is composed of a titanium material, and the golf club head further comprises a ribbon disposed between and connected to the crown and the sole. In yet other aspects of the invention, the crown and sole are further connected to one another at their peripheries. In another aspect, the one or more alignment features are integrally molded with the crown, and in yet another aspect of the invention, the one or more alignment features are affixed to the interior surface of the crown. In another aspect of the invention, the crown and sole are connected at the one or more alignment features by a pillar.
Another aspect of the invention is a golf club head comprising a metal face cup comprising a ball striking area, a rear section extending laterally rearwardly from the striking area and encircling the striking area, and a hosel, a composite crown having a periphery and an interior surface, and a composite sole, wherein the interior surface of the crown comprises one or more alignment features spaced from the periphery, and wherein the composite sole is affixed to the composite crown at the periphery and at the one or more alignment features.
Yet another aspect of the invention is a golf club head comprising a face component composed of a titanium alloy material and comprising a ball striking area, a rear section extending laterally rearwardly from a periphery of the striking area and encircling the striking area, and a hosel, a composite crown having an inner surface, an outer surface, an interior area, and a periphery, and a composite sole having an inner surface, an outer surface, an interior area, and a periphery, wherein the interior area of the composite crown comprises one or more alignment features, wherein the composite sole and the composite crown are attached to each other at their respective peripheries, and wherein one or more portions of the composite sole located within an interior area of the composite sole extend upwards towards and connect with the one or more alignment features.
A further aspect of the invention is a golf club head comprising a face component, a composite crown comprising interior and exterior surfaces, a composite sole comprising one or more apertures, and one or more composite pieces having approximately the same size in plan as the one or more apertures and having at least three sides, wherein the interior surface of the crown in visible through the one or more apertures, wherein the interior surface of the crown visible through the apertures comprises one or more alignment features, wherein at least one side of each of the one or more composite pieces is affixed to at least one side of each of the one or more apertures, and wherein at least one side of each composite piece is affixed to the interior surface of the composite crown at the one or more alignment features.
Another aspect of the invention is a golf club head comprising a face component, a composite crown comprising interior and exterior surfaces, a composite sole comprising at least one aperture, and a composite cutout having approximately the same size in plan as the aperture, wherein the interior surface of the crown is visible through the aperture, wherein the interior surface of the crown comprises one or more alignment features, and wherein the composite cutout is affixed to a side of the aperture at a first location and to the interior surface of the crown at a second location at or near the one or more alignment features.
A further aspect of the invention is a golf club head comprising a face component, a composite crown comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a composite sole comprising at least one deep pocket, wherein an alignment feature is provided on the interior surface of the crown, wherein the at least one deep pocket comprises interior and exterior surfaces, and wherein a portion of the interior surface of the at least one deep pocket contacts the alignment feature. In yet another aspect of this invention, the composite sole comprises two to four deep pockets.
The present invention is generally directed to a multi-material golf club head that has interior structural means for generating rigidity in the head to help with acoustics or structural requirements, with minimal added mass. The structural means alters the sound emitted from the golf club head when the club strikes a golf ball.
As shown in
As shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the return portion 74 generally includes an upper lateral section 76 (illustrated in
As illustrated in
The perimeter 73 of the striking plate portion 74 is defined as the transition point where the face component 60 transitions from a plane substantially parallel to the striking plate portion 72 to a plane substantially perpendicular to the striking plate portion 72. Alternatively, one method for determining the transition point is to take a plane parallel to the striking plate portion 72 and a plane perpendicular to the striking plate portion, and then take a plane at an angle of forty-five degrees to the parallel plane and the perpendicular plane. Where the forty-five degrees plane contacts the face component is the transition point thereby defining the perimeter of the striking plate portion 72. The present invention preferably has the face component 60 engage the crown 62 along a substantially horizontal plane.
As shown in
As illustrated in
As shown in
As shown in
In yet another embodiment, shown in
In a preferred process, the crown 62 and sole 64 are separately formed through compression molding and are attached together at their respective peripheries 62b, 64b with an adhesive material. The crown 62 and sole 64 may be attached as shown in
The crown portion 62 of the aft-body 61 is generally convex toward the sole portion 64, and preferably engages the sole portion 64 at the periphery of the sole portion 64b. The crown portion 62 preferably has a thickness in the range of 0.010 to 0.100 inch, more preferably in the range of 0.025 inch to 0.070 inch, even more preferably in the range of 0.028 inch to 0.040 inch, and most preferably has a thickness of 0.035 inch. Where an optional ribbon is used, the crown portion engages the ribbon instead of the sole portion periphery 64b.
The sole portion 64 of the aft-body 61 preferably engages the crown portion 62 at the periphery of the crown portion 62b. The sole portion 64 preferably has a thickness in the range of 0.010 to 0.100 inch, more preferably in the range of 0.025 inch to 0.070 inch, even more preferably in the range of 0.030 inch to 0.050 inch, and most preferably has a thickness of 0.040 inch. Where an optional ribbon is used, the sole portion 64 engages the periphery ribbon 90 instead of the crown portion 62.
As illustrated in
In one embodiment, the openings 230 formed by the deep pockets may be covered such that they are hidden from view by a user, but in a preferred embodiment they are uncovered and visible to a golfer. In another embodiment, the sole portion 64 comprises pillars or ribs that extend upwards from the planar area of the sole and contact the interior surface of the crown. In yet another embodiment, the sole 64 includes one or more apertures and the pockets 200-210 are formed by inserting into the apertures one or more composite pieces (not shown) having approximately the same size in plan as the apertures and using the composite pieces to connect the sole 64 with the crown 62.
In a most preferred embodiment, the deep pockets 200-210 are located on the sole 64 near the rear of the head 70 where the interior space between the crown 62 and the sole 64 is generally smallest.
In the preferred embodiment, the crown 62 and the sole 64 comprising the deep pockets 200-210 are formed using a compression molding process, where the crown 62 and sole 64 are molded as two separate pieces, then bonded together after molding. The joint 240 at the bottom of the pocket 200-210 where the sole 64 connects to the crown 62 can be configured in a number of ways. The sole 64 can have holes in it as shown in
In yet another embodiment, shown in
The crown 62 may comprise one or more alignment features 300, not all of which must be used to facilitate the connection between the crown 62 and sole 64. In one embodiment, the crown 62 may comprise two or more alignment features 300, while the sole only comprises one deep pocket 200 that connects to the crown 62, and thus only employs one alignment feature 300.
From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims.
DeMille, Brandon D., Cackett, Matthew T.
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Aug 02 2011 | CACKETT, MATTHEW T | Callaway Golf Company | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 031121 | /0203 | |
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